Minnesota Birth Certificate: Order a Certified Copy Online

Who has a tangible interest under Minnesota Statutes 144.225

For a public birth record, Minnesota lets these people order a certified copy:

• the subject of the record, a parent named on it, a child or the current spouse
• a grandparent or great-grandparent, and a grandchild or great-grandchild
• a legal custodian, guardian or conservator, or a health care agent
• a personal representative or successor handling the estate
• an attorney, an adoption agency, a government agency, or someone with a U.S. court order (a subpoena is not enough)
• anyone determining or protecting a personal or property right, and an authorized representative of any person above

Family members on the list need no proof. Custodians, guardians and conservators show a court order, a health care agent shows the power of attorney, and an attorney gives a license number.

Confidential records of children born to unmarried parents

When the parents were not married, the record is confidential unless the mother chose to make it public at the birth. Only the subject, once at least sixteen or a homeless youth, a parent named on the record, a custodian, guardian or conservator, or someone holding a court order may then receive a certified copy. That confidential information becomes public a century after the birth.

Notarized by mail, signed at the counter in person

The application covers the subject's name, date of birth, sex, Minnesota city and county, both parents' names with each last name before first marriage, and your own name, date of birth, phone, address and email, followed by a relationship checklist. Mail and fax requests must be signed before a notary. In person you sign in front of county staff and show an unexpired driver's license or state ID, a government employee ID, a pilot license, a military ID, a U.S. passport or certain immigration documents; temporary licenses are not accepted. Someone without ID can bring a witness who has known them at least two years to complete a Statement to Identify.

Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Ramsey County and the state office

Births from 1900 onward can be issued by the Minnesota Department of Health and by any county vital records office, so a Minneapolis birth can be picked up at the Hennepin County office or at Ramsey County in St. Paul, among others. The state office has no walk-in service. Births before 1900 are kept only by the county of birth. Amendments, delayed registrations, adoptees' original records and parentage documents are handled only by the state.

Certified, noncertified and adoptees' original records

A certified birth record is printed on security paper and is the version banks, credit card issuers and driver's license offices accept. A noncertified copy is plain paper for information, and anyone may buy one of a public record; for births in 2000 or earlier the state can also supply an image of the paper record. Minnesota has no separate long form. Since July 2024, adoptees aged eighteen or older who were born in Minnesota can request a noncertified copy of their original birth record. A Recognition of Parentage or a court adjudication creates a replacement record and seals the original.

How it works when you order with BirthChek

Our Minnesota form lists the state's eligible relationships, including grandparent, grandchild, attorney and guardian, and asks for each parent's last name before first marriage. You upload your ID and sign the authorization for us to act on your behalf, and BirthChek files the request with the Office of Vital Records. Your order page shows each step and tells you if the state asks for anything else.